The Chinese Foreign Ministry has dismissed American criticism regarding the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre as a distortion of facts, while Washington officials continue to honor the victims of the military crackdown.
Beijing Rejects U.S. Accusations
Erroneous remarks from the United States constitute a distortion of historical facts, the slandering of China’s political system and path of development, and interference in China’s internal affairs, declared Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Thursday, June 4. She urged the American side to cease interfering in China’s domestic matters under the guise of democracy and human rights.
Rubio Condemns Military Action
In a statement released earlier, U.S. officials noted that the world remembers how the Chinese Communist Party ordered the military to attack thousands of peaceful demonstrators. The statement emphasized that no amount of censorship can erase the past, stating that those who sacrificed themselves for the right to freedom of speech will one day see justice served.
The 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre
On the night of June 3-4, 1989, the Chinese army opened fire on thousands of students and workers demanding democratic reforms. Independent estimates suggest that several hundred to several thousand unarmed people were killed. Beijing has never accepted responsibility for the pacification and suppresses public discussion on the event.
Suppression of Commemorations
Ahead of this year’s anniversary, the Beijing Public Security Bureau banned members of the Tiananmen Mothers group from visiting the Wan’an cemetery to mourn their relatives. Additionally, in Hong Kong, all forms of commemoration have been prohibited following the imposition of the national security law.